Animals at Edinburgh Zoo have been meeting an unusual new pal - a robot created to allow sick children to see animals up close.

Immunocompromised kids, those suffering or recovering from serious illnesses, often miss out on many of the fun activities their peers enjoy due to having to isolate at home or in hospital.

However, the UK charity SpecialEffect's AV1 robot is allowing them to get up close and personal with a new set of furry friends thanks to a partnership with Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).

SpecialEffect's pioneering BubbleBusters project and AV1 allowed Riley (7) and Josy (5) to enjoy an up-close look at some of the animals, while hearing more about their behaviours. Operated via a computer or smartphone, the AV1 becomes the child's eyes, ears and voice, enabling real-time conversation, movement, and exploration in spaces they cannot safely access in person.

Jaima Smith, community and discovery programme officer at RZSS, said: "Being able to help create such a special day for these children is a huge part of why we do what we do here at RZSS. Hearing their laughter and excitement as they explored the zoo and connected with our animals was truly heartwarming."

While BubbleBusters is typically used to help children continue attending school during intensive treatment, this collaboration demonstrates the transformative potential of accessible technology in leisure and play.

Paige Harvey, gaming community manager at SpecialEffect said: "We were thrilled to be able to bring two of our young BubbleBusters to the zoo via accessible technology, highlighting the importance of inclusion while having fun and engaging in a shared love of the natural world. We can't thank the team at Edinburgh Zoo enough for working with us to help make their dreams come true."